The Branch welcomes Mr Doug Arbuckle, Senior Advisor for Surveillance and PNT (Positioning, Navigation and Timing), Joint Planning & Development Office (JPDO), and Chief Scientist and International Lead, Surveillance & Broadcast Services (SBS) Program, of the FAA Air Traffic Organisation, under the Eminent Speaker Series of lectures, to Adelaide on 16th March. Details of his talk which will discuss the " Next Generation Air Traffic Management – Promises, Pitfalls and Progress" are contained in the attached flyer.
Both the U.S. and Europe are engaged in active, long-term programs to modernize Air Traffic Management (ATM). These programs promise a continuous roll-out of new procedures and technology that will save fuel, reduce noise, cut pollution, and maintain or improve safety. The United States has invested nearly $3 billion in its ATM modernization program, called NextGen. NextGen is projected to reduce delays about 35 percent in the next seven years. It will bring $23 billion in cumulative benefits, saving about 1.4 billion gallons of jet fuel and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 14 million tons. This presentation will describe the technologies that enable and underpin NextGen, as well as the technical challenges involved in integrating these technologies. However, good engineering alone is not enough to achieve NextGen goals. Since ATM systems must operate 24/7/365, how to transition to new operations and procedures using the new technologies is also key; major transition considerations will be described. Cultural factors in the engineering, pilot and controller workforces must also be addressed; these factors will be described, as well as the approaches which are trying to address them. The presentation will close with selected examples of progress from a U.S. and global perspective.